Should Oman ban social media for children?

Over a year ago, I had a lengthy discussion with my father about the negative impact that social media can have on our children. I shared my opinion that parents should have some level of control and visibility over their children’s use of social media networks.

Today, I am very pleased to see that similar conversations are taking place around the world — this time with the support of higher authorities. Governments are now stepping in with a bold question: should children even be on social media in the first place? In my humble opinion, yes, to some extent and I believe a balanced approach should be considered here in Oman as well.

A few days ago, Meta (the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, among others) and YouTube were found liable in cases related to social media addiction.

In the United States, a Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman in a landmark lawsuit against Meta (Instagram) and Google (YouTube) for mental health harms.

Furthermore, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for failing to protect children from sexual predators on its platforms (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp). The court ordered Meta to pay a $375 million penalty for thousands of violations related to child exploitation and endangering children’s mental health.

Countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Portugal, France, Brazil and parts of the United States are actively following suit and exploring ways to address this issue. Some are proposing strict age verification laws, while others are pushing for a complete ban for younger users.

There are many reasons why countries are taking action now. First is the impact on mental health. Studies have shown that higher exposure to social media at a young age is linked to anxiety, low self-esteem and even depression. Children begin comparing themselves to unrealistic standards before they even understand who they are. Second, these platforms are designed to be addictive — they are engineered to keep users scrolling. Try it yourself; you will find it difficult to stop once you open a social media app’s feed.

Third is exposure to inappropriate content. No matter how strong the filters are, the reality is simple: social media is not a controlled environment. Children can be exposed to harmful ideas, cyberbullying, or content they are not ready to process. Lastly, focus and productivity are significantly affected.

I see this firsthand through numerous complaints from working professionals — not to mention parents — about how social media is impacting their daily lives. With these reasons in mind, don’t you think our children (and the future generation) are at serious risk? Isn’t it time to take stronger action before it becomes too late?

I recently had a candid discussion with my children who made an interesting point. They believe that banning social media may not be a fully workable solution, because where there is a will, there is always a way. For example, blocking websites or services often leads people to find ways around restrictions through VPNs or alternative platforms.

Children are naturally curious. When something is completely restricted, it often becomes more attractive. They will find ways to access it — through friends, secondary accounts, or new platforms. Nevertheless, the fact that governments are now openly addressing this issue sends a powerful and clear message about the risks social media poses to our children.

Rather than asking whether we should completely ban social media for children, perhaps the better question is how we can create a safer and more responsible digital environment for them. I trust that a balanced approach, combining regulation, parental involvement, education and platform accountability, may be more effective than a complete ban.

Oman has a unique opportunity to learn from global experiences and implement thoughtful measures that protect children without completely disconnecting them from the digital world. After all, the goal is not to isolate the next generation but to empower them to use technology wisely, safely and with purpose.